Forsythe’s
Dec 5 – 28
The ultimate holiday tradition
Helgi Tomasson
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Clara from Tomasson’s Nutcracker // © Studio Schuller for San Francisco Ballet
Performance One – 49min
Intermission – 20min
Performance Two – 36min
War Memorial Opera House
Programming, casting, and prices subject to change.
Our most magical production returns to the Opera House stage, transporting audiences of all ages into a realm of the fantastical. Dubbed Helgi Tomasson’s “finest achievement” by the San Francisco Chronicle, our Nutcracker remains the cornerstone of the Bay Area’s holiday season.
Tchaikovsky’s iconic score played by the Grammy Award-winning Orchestra guides us along Clara’s magical journey from her Victorian-era San Francisco home, through the most dazzling onstage blizzard, and onto the stunning Crystal Palace where we meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and an international cast of characters.
Nearly 80 years after San Francisco Ballet presented America with its first-ever Nutcracker in 1944, it remains the ultimate holiday tradition for families, friends, and dance-lovers alike.
Act I – 47 min
Intermission – 20 min
Act II – 50 min
War Memorial Opera House
Programming, casting, and prices subject to change.
An arrow to the future
Eugene Onegin is a richly layered and deeply human exploration of love, regret, and the heart’s fragility. Resident Choreographer Yuri Possokhov’s world premiere brings new depth to Alexander Pushkin’s classic, where a single choice alters the course of a life.
© Video by RJ Muna
Single Tickets
Enter promo code FIRSTFOUR and save 20% off single ticket prices on the first 4 Nutcracker performances.*
* TERMS & CONDITIONS
Offer expires 24 hours before the performance and is valid on the 12/5 at 7pm, 12/6 at 2pm, 12/6 at 7pm, 12/7 at 2pm performances of Nutcracker. Discounts are in all seating sections except Orchestra Premium Row A, Orchestra Ring Front, and Balcony. All sales are final. No refunds. Exchanges are subject to availability, restrictions, and fees, and are at the regular price, not the discounted price. Casting, programming, and prices are subject to change. Tickets are subject to availability. Offer does not apply to previously purchased tickets and cannot be combined with other offers.
Experience the world-class San Francisco Ballet’s holiday classic, Nutcracker, for a fraction of the cost of our weekend matinees on Value Dates.
Ticket prices are reduced for the following performances, making them the perfect option for students, families, and budget-conscious lovers of the arts. Purchase now to take advantage of the great availability before tickets sell out!
Value Performances
- Sun, Dec 7, 7pm
- Tue, Dec 9, 6pm
- Wed, Dec 10, 6pm
- Thu, Dec 11, 6pm
- Fri, Dec 12, 2pm
- Sun, Dec 14, 7pm
- Tue, Dec 16, 7pm
- Wed, Dec 17, 2pm
These performances are the same, magical production as our other performances of Nutcracker at lower prices so that everyone can enjoy of Helgi Tomasson’s beloved Nutcracker. And now for a limited time, use promo code BESTVALUE and save 20% off the current Value price.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Offer expires on December 8 at 11:59 pm and is valid on the 12/7 at 7pm, 12/9 at 6pm, 12/10 at 6pm, 12/11 at 6pm, 12/12 at 2pm, 12/14 at 7pm, 12/16 at 7pm, and 12/17 at 2pm performances of Nutcracker. Discounts are in all seating sections except Orchestra Premium Row A, Orchestra Ring Front, and Balcony. All sales are final. No refunds. Exchanges are subject to availability, restrictions, and fees are at the regular price, not the discounted price. Casting, programming, and prices are subject to change. Tickets are subject to availability. Offer does not apply to previously purchased tickets and cannot be combined with other offers.
Special Nutcracker Performances
Land of Dreams
December 13
A joyful celebration of San Francisco’s beloved holiday tradition. Begin the season with the chance to meet your favorite characters at a festive luncheon with interactive activities before a special matinee performance of Nutcracker.
Nutcracker Dance-Alongs
December 21
- FAMILY DANCE-ALONGS (suggested for ages 3–7) at 9 am, 10:15 am, 11:30 am
- SENSORY FRIENDLY DANCE-ALONGS at 1 pm (suggested for ages 5–12) and 2:30 pm (suggested for ages 13–22+)
Step into Clara’s magical winter wonderland full of toy soldiers, twirling snowflakes, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and more! Move to the choreography, discover the music, learn about costumes and point shoes, and enjoy hands-on arts and craft activities. A quiet room is available at all times. Bring the whole family to dance along with us.
Sensory Friendly Performance
December 28 at 11am
A relaxed and welcoming space where neurodiverse audiences of all ages and abilities can feel comfortable to experience the magic of Nutcracker. This family-friendly performance is also a wonderful opportunity for first-time balletgoers and young children to experience ballet in a more informal setting.
Sugar Plum VIP Box Experience
Ready to reserve the most magical seats in the house? Step into your own private sanctuary with the Sugar Plum VIP Box Experience–where luxury meets the enchantment of Nutcracker.
Elevate your holiday tradition with a VIP Box Experience
Ready to reserve the most magical seats in the house? Step into your own private sanctuary with the Sugar Plum VIP Box Experience–where luxury meets the enchantment of Nutcracker.
Casting & Credits
Saturday, December 06 AT 2 pm
CHOREOGRAPHER
Helgi Tomasson
COMPOSER
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan
Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz
Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls
Projection Design: Wendall K. Harrington
The 2004 premiere of Helgi Tomasson’s Nutcracker was made possible by Lead Sponsors The Herbert Family and The Swanson Foundation, and Sponsors Yurie and Carl Pascarella, Kathleen Scutchfield, and The Smelick Family.
Nutcracker
Casting & Credits
Saturday, December 06 AT 2 pm
CHOREOGRAPHER
Helgi Tomasson
COMPOSER
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan
Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz
Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls
Projection Design: Wendall K. Harrington
The 2004 premiere of Helgi Tomasson’s Nutcracker was made possible by Lead Sponsors The Herbert Family and The Swanson Foundation, and Sponsors Yurie and Carl Pascarella, Kathleen Scutchfield, and The Smelick Family.
CONDUCTOR: Martin West
ACT I
*UNCLE DROSSELMEYER: Myles Thatcher
*CLARA: Luka Ganaden
FRITZ: Oliver Gurrea
HOUSEKEEPER AND MAID: Gabriela Gonzalez, Leili Rackow
DR. & MRS. STAHLBAUM: Jakub Groot, Katita Waldo
GRANDPARENTS: Davide Occhipinti, Joanna Berman
PARTY GUESTS: Amelia Soh, Anatalia St. Clair, Tyla Steinbach, Juliana Wilder, Lleyton Ho, Lucas López, Simone Pompignoli, Asher Stephenson with Students of San Francisco Ballet School
*DANCING DOLLS: Luca Ferrò, Seojeong Yun, Victor Prigent
*THE NUTCRACKER PRINCE: Max Cauthorn
*KING OF THE MICE: Rubén Cítores Nieto
*QUEEN & KING OF THE SNOW: Isabella DeVivo and Joshua Jack Price
SNOWFLAKES: Sofia Albers, Rebecca Blenkinsop, Maya Chandrashekaran, Anna Chaziroglou, Jacey Gailliard, Aaliyahmarie Key, Katharine Lee, Rimi Nakano, Hui-Wen Peng, Leili Rackow, Amelia Soh, Tyla Steinbach, Maggie Weirich, Nicole Kosasih Widjaja, Juliana Wilder, Juliette Windey
INTERMISSION
ACT II
*THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY: Jihyun Choi
SPANISH: Elizabeth Powell, Juliana Wilder, Fernando Carratalá Coloma, Lucas López, Victor Prigent
*ARABIAN: Pemberley Ann Olson with Emmitt Friedman, Andris Kundzins
*CHINESE: Dylan Pierzina with Students of San Francisco Ballet School
FRENCH: Anatalia St. Clair, Tyla Steinbach, Seojeong Yun
*RUSSIAN: João Percilio da Silva with Jasper True Stanford, Benjamin Taber
MADAME DU CIRQUE: Louis Schilling
and her BUFFOONS: Students of San Francisco Ballet School with Lleyton Ho
WALTZING FLOWERS: Sofia Albers, Rebecca Blenkinsop, Maya Chandrashekaran, Anna Chaziroglou, Carlota Cruz, Jacey Gailliard, Gabriela Gonzalez, Erin Jung, Katharine Lee, SunMin Lee, Rimi Nakano, Hui-Wen Peng, Amelia Soh, Jamie Adele Stephens, Maggie Weirich, Juliette Windey
*GRAND PAS DE DEUX: Nikisha Fogo and Max Cauthorn
*Cast changes will be announced to the audience prior to each performance.
SUPPORT FOR San Francisco Ballet PROUDLY PROVIDED BY
Pitchfork offal semiotics, lo-fi marfa. Migas big mood jean shorts adaptogen, gluten-free blackbird spyplane jianbing blog edison.
Pop-up kitsch mixtape edison bulb small batch, flannel 3 wolf moon adaptogen plaid.
Cloud bread hot chicken deep v, vexillologist snackwave church-key pinterest gorpcore.